Apparatus and method for applying a product to skin

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for applying product to the skin of a person in a booth, comprising: an applicator configured to apply the product to the person; a first guide configured to guide movement of an applicator in a first dimension, in order to enable the applicator to apply the product to the person at a plurality of different heights; and a second guide configured to guide movement of the applicator in a second dimension, in order to enable the applicator to apply the product across the width of the person. The apparatus may comprise control circuitry for controlling the applicator in dependence upon the weight of the person.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/810,121, filed Jan. 14, 2013, the content which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the application of aproduct to the skin of a person. In particular, they relate to applyingskin product, such as sunless tanning lotion, to the skin of a person ina booth.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, tanning booths have become popular. A person may, forexample, stand within such a tanning booth while sunless tanning lotionis applied to him/her by a human operator or by automated means.

In circumstances where the sunless tanning lotion is applied usingautomated means, it can be difficult to ensure that sunless tanninglotion is applied to the person in an even fashion and in a manner thatis comfortable for the person.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided an apparatus for applying product to theskin of a person in a booth, comprising: an applicator configured toapply the product to the person; a first guide configured to guidemovement of the applicator in a first dimension, in order to enable theapplicator to apply the product to the person at a plurality ofdifferent heights; and a second guide configured to guide movement ofthe applicator in a second dimension, in order to enable the applicatorto apply the product across the width of the person.

The second guide may be configured to guide movement of the applicatorin the second dimension by guiding the first guide in the seconddimension. The second guide may be configured to guide the applicatoralong an arcuate path.

The first guide may have a length extending in the first dimension.

The applicator may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotationaligned with the length of the first guide. The applicator may beconfigured to rotate by substantially 70 degrees.

The second guide may be configured to cause the first guide to rotateabout an axis of rotation that is separated from, and substantiallyparallel with, the length of the first guide. The second guide may beconfigured to cause the first guide to rotate by substantially 90degrees.

The apparatus may further comprise: a first drive configured to drivethe applicator along the first guide and in the first dimension; and asecond drive configured to drive the first guide in the seconddimension.

The apparatus may further comprise: control circuitry configured tocontrol the first drive and the second drive in accordance with aproduct application program. The product application program used by thecontrol circuitry may depend on the weight of the person to whom theproduct is to be applied. The product application program used by thecontrol circuitry may depend on the height of the person to whom theproduct is to be applied.

The apparatus may further comprise: a sensor configured to sense theheight of the person to whom the product is to be applied. The apparatusmay further comprise: a sensor configured to sense the weight of theperson to whom the product is to be applied.

The apparatus may further comprise: a sensor configured to senseresistance to movement of the first guide in the second dimension, andcontrol circuitry configured, in response to the sensor sensingresistance to movement of the first guide in the second dimension, tocause the first guide to cease.

The applicator may be a spray gun configured to spray the product ontothe skin of the person. The spray gun may have a variable fan outputsize. The apparatus may further comprise control circuitry forcontrolling the fan output size in dependence upon the weight of theperson to be sprayed.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: controlcircuitry; and at least one memory storing computer program instructionsthat, when executed by the control circuitry, cause the apparatus toperform at least the following: controlling guided movement of anapplicator in a first dimension, in order to enable the applicator toapply product to the skin of a person at a plurality of differentheights; and controlling guided movement of the applicator in a seconddimension, in order to enable the applicator to apply the product acrossthe width of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided a method, comprising: controlling guidedmovement of an applicator in a first dimension, in order to enable theapplicator to apply product to the skin of a person at a plurality ofdifferent heights; and controlling guided movement of the applicator ina second dimension, in order to enable the applicator to apply theproduct across the width of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable mediumstoring computer program instructions that, when executed by controlcircuitry, cause at least the following to be performed: controllingguided movement of an applicator in a first dimension along a firstguide, in order to enable the applicator to apply product to the skin ofa person at a plurality of different heights; and controlling guidedmovement of the applicator in a second dimension, in order to enable theapplicator to apply the product across the width of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided an apparatus for applying product to theskin of a person in a booth, comprising: an applicator configured toapply the product to the person; and control circuitry for controllingthe applicator in dependence upon the weight of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising: controlcircuitry; and at least one memory storing computer program instructionsthat, when executed by the control circuitry, cause the apparatus toperform at least the following: determining the weight of a person; andcontrolling an applicator, for applying the product to the person, independence upon the weight of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided a method for applying product to the skinof a person in a booth, comprising: determining the weight of a person;and controlling an applicator, for applying the product to the person,in dependence upon the weight of the person.

According to some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable mediumstoring computer program instructions that, when executed by controlcircuitry, cause at least the following to be performed: determining theweight of a person; and controlling an applicator, for applying theproduct to the person, in dependence upon the weight of the person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of thepresent invention reference will now be made by way of example only tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for applying product to the skin of aperson;

FIG. 2A illustrates a guide comprising a track member and an arm;

FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate an end portion of the arm connected to avertical guide;

FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate the addition of first and second guides to abooth;

FIG. 4 illustrates a control aspect of the apparatus;

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate product being applied to the skin of a personin a booth;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate movement of an applicator of the apparatus;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate product being applied to the skin of a person;and

FIG. 10 illustrates a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention provide an efficient method of evenlyapplying skin product, such as tanning lotion, to the skin of a person.

The Figures illustrate an apparatus 100 for applying product to the skinof a person 200/201 in a booth 10, comprising: an applicator 57configured to apply the product to the person 200/201; a first guide 40configured to guide movement of the applicator 57 in a first dimensionz, in order to enable the applicator 57 to apply the product to theperson 200/201 at a plurality of different heights; and a second guide20 configured to guide movement of the applicator 57 in a seconddimension Φ, in order to enable the applicator 57 to apply the productacross the width of the person 200/201/202.

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 for applying product to the skin ofa person in a booth 10. The apparatus 100 may or may not comprise thebooth 10. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, theapparatus 100 does not comprise the booth 10 and is supplied as a kit ofparts for attachment to an existing booth. The booth 10 illustrated inFIG. 1 comprises a base 13 having a foot grate 14, a roof 12, and anentrance/front opening 11.

The booth 10 is an enclosure that defines an inner volume 300. In thisexample, one or more walls 301, 302 of the booth 10 define the boothvolume 300.

The front opening 11 of the booth 10 is shaped so as to enable a personto enter the booth 10 via the front opening 11 (e.g. by walking) andposition himself (entirely) within the booth volume 300. When product isto be applied to the skin of a person, the person enters the booth 10via the front opening 11 and stands in the booth volume 300 and on thefoot grate 14. In this particular example, the booth 10 does notcomprise a door for covering the front opening 11.

The apparatus 100 comprises a first guide 40 and a second guide 20. Thesecond guide 20 comprises an arm 22 and a track member 24. A first end21 of the arm 22 is rotatably attached to the roof 12 of the booth 10 atthe point designated by the reference numeral 9. A second end 23 of thearm 22 is fixedly connected to the first guide 40. The first guide 40 iselongate in shape and has the form of a column. The first guide 40 has alength that extends, perpendicular to the arm 22, down the front opening11 of the booth 10.

The track member 24 is fixedly connected to the roof 12 of the booth 10,above the front opening 11. The track member 24 comprises a curved track25 which may, for example, be a gear rack. The arm 22 is configured tomove along the track 25 of the track member 24. The arm 22 may, forexample, comprise a pinion that enables the arm 22 to move along thetrack 25.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cylindrical co-ordinate system 80 with an azimuthaldimension Φ, a radial dimension r and a longitudinal dimension z. Eachof the dimensions Φ, r and z are orthogonal to one another. Theillustrated co-ordinate system 80 is centered on the point 9 at whichthe arm 22 is connected to the booth 10.

The arm 22 is configured to rotate about its connection point 9 and theaxis of rotation designated with the reference numeral 90. The arm 22rotates in the azimuthal dimension Φ and extends in the radial dimensionr outwardly from the connection point 9. FIG. 1 illustrates an examplein which the arm 22 is configured to rotate about the axis 90 by 90degrees. In FIG. 1, the arm 22 is illustrated as being in a centralposition, relative to its range of motion.

As mentioned above, the first guide 40 is fixedly connected to thesecond end 23 of the arm 22. The length of the first guide 40 extends inthe longitudinal dimension z. Movement of the arm 22 (of the secondguide 20) in the azimuthal dimension Φ causes the first guide 40 to movein the azimuthal dimension Φ. The second guide 20 is thereforeconfigured to guide the first guide 40, along an arcuate path, in theazimuthal dimension Φ. As the first guide 40 moves, it remainsperpendicular to the arm 22. There is no movement of the first guide 40in the radial and longitudinal dimensions r, z. The arrow 95 indicatesthe direction of movement of the arm 22 along the track 25 and thedirection of movement of the first guide 40.

The first guide 40 is positioned outside the booth volume 300 and isconfigured to guide an applicator 57 in the longitudinal dimension z. Atleast part of the applicator 57 may be contained within the first guide40. The applicator 57 is configured to apply product to the skin of aperson positioned in the booth 10. In this example, the applicator 57applies product through the front opening 11 and onto the skin of aperson positioned in the booth 10 (e.g. by spraying product through thefront opening 11).

The product that is applied to the skin of the person may be a beautyproduct for example, such as sunless tanning lotion. The applicator 57may, for example, be a spray applicator (such as a spray gun) that isconfigured to spray the product onto the skin of a person in the booth10.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the applicator 57 is positioned ina carriage 42 that is arranged to slide along the first guide 40 in thelongitudinal dimension z. The arrows 65 and 66 indicate the directionsof movement of the carriage 42 and the applicator 57 along the firstguide 40.

The first guide 40 enables the applicator 57 to move to variousdifferent positions in the longitudinal dimension z, and thereforeenables the applicator 57 to apply product to a person positioned in thebooth 10 at a plurality of different heights.

The second guide 20 guides the movement of the applicator 57 in theazimuthal dimension Φ by guiding the first guide 40 across the frontopening 11 of the booth 10. The first guide 40 may, for example, move tovarious different azimuthal positions across the front opening 11. Thisenables the applicator 57, situated in the first guide 40, to moveacross the front opening 11 and apply product across the width of aperson positioned in the booth 10.

The applicator 57 is also configured to rotate, in the azimuthaldimension Φ, about an axis of rotation 70 that is aligned with thelength of the first guide 40, and separate from the axis of rotation 90of the arm 22. The axis of rotation 70 is aligned with the longitudinaldimension z and is substantially parallel with the axis of rotation 90of the arm 22.

The arrow designated with the reference numeral 75 is illustrative ofthe movement of the applicator 57. The applicator 57 may, for example,be configured to rotate about its axis of rotation 70 by substantially70 degrees. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the applicator 57 isdirected towards the center of the opening 11 in the booth 10, asillustrated by the line 85.

The second guide 20 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2A. It can beseen in FIG. 2A that the arm 22 comprises at least one aperture 32 foruse in rotatably connecting the arm 22 to the roof 12 of the booth 10.The arm 22 also comprises at least one aperture 34 for use in connectingthe arm 22 to the first guide 40.

FIG. 2A also illustrates a drive 52, situated on the arm 22, which isconfigured to drive the arm 22 along the track 25. In this example, thedrive 52 is a stepper motor that rotates a pinion, driving the arm 22along the track 25 in discrete steps and causing the first guide 40 tomove along the azimuthal dimension Φ in discrete steps.

A further drive 53 is also situated on the arm 52. The further drive 53is configured to cause the applicator 57 to rotate about the axis 70.The operation of the drive 53 can be seen in FIGS. 2B and 2C. The drive53 may, for example, be a linear drive that is configured to move afirst link member 33, in the form of a rod, in a linear fashion. Thefirst link member 33 is elongate in shape and extends along the arm 22in the radial dimension r. The first link member 33 is coupled to asecond member 36 which extends through an aperture 37 in the arm 22 anddown the first guide 40 in the longitudinal dimension z. The second linkmember 36 is coupled to the applicator 57.

The aperture 37 in the arm 22 includes a curved peripheral surface 35.The curved peripheral surface 35 acts as a cam, causing the linearmotion of the first link member 33 to be converted into rotationalmotion of the applicator 57 coupled to the second link member 36.

FIG. 2B illustrates the first link member 33 at one extremity of itsmotion and FIG. 2C illustrates the first link member 33 at the oppositeextremity of its motion.

As can be seen in FIG. 2A, a cover 31 may be provided to cover thecomponents situated on the arm 22.

FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate the apparatus 100 being fitted in steps to anexisting booth 10. FIG. 3A illustrates a booth 10. FIG. 3B illustratesthe booth 10 after the track member 24 of the second guide 20 has beenfitted to the roof 12 of the booth 10. FIG. 3C illustrates the booth 10after the arm 22 of the second guide 20 has been fitted to the roof 12of the booth 10. FIG. 3D illustrates the booth 10 after the first guide40 has been connected to the arm 22.

FIG. 4 illustrates components 51-57 of the apparatus 100 that receiveinputs from or provide inputs to control circuitry 50 of the apparatus100. If the apparatus 100 is a kit of parts, it may comprise some or allof the elements 50 to 57 illustrated in FIG. 4.

The elements 50-57 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be operationally coupledand any number or combination of intervening elements can exist(including no intervening elements)

The control circuitry 50 may, for example, be (or comprise) one or moreprocessors. The control circuitry 50 is configured to provide outputs toa first drive 51, a second drive 52, a third drive 53 and the applicator57. The control circuitry 50 is configured to receive inputs from aheight sensor 54 and a weight sensor 55. The control circuitry 50 isalso configured to read from and write to a memory 56.

The memory 56 stores computer program instructions 6 that control theoperation of the apparatus 100 when loaded into the control circuitry50. The computer program instructions 6 provide the logic and routinesthat enables the apparatus 100 to perform the method illustrated in FIG.10. The control circuitry 50, by reading the memory 56, is able to loadand execute the computer program instructions 6.

The memory 56 is a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium.Although the memory 56 is illustrated as a single component it may beimplemented as one or more separate components some or all of which maybe integrated/removable and/or may providepermanent/semi-permanent/dynamic/cached storage.

The first drive 51 is configured to drive the applicator 57 along thefirst guide 40. Through appropriate control of the first drive 51, thecontrol circuitry 50 is able to move and position the applicator 57 inthe longitudinal dimension z.

The second drive 52 was described above and is configured to drive thearm 22 along the track 25 and to drive the first guide 40 in theazimuthal dimension Φ. Through appropriate control of the first drive51, the control circuitry 50 is able to position the first guide 40 (andtherefore the applicator 57) in any one of a number of positions acrossthe width of the front opening 11 of the booth 10.

The third drive 53 was described above and is configured to theapplicator 57 to rotate about the axis 70. Through appropriate controlof the third drive 53, the control circuitry 50 is able to control thedirection in which the applicator 57 outputs product towards a personpositioned in the booth 10.

The height sensor 54 is configured to enable the control circuitry 50 todetermine the height of a person positioned in the booth 10. The heightsensor 54 may, for example, be positioned in the carriage 42 that slidesalong the first guide 40. For instance, the height sensor 54 may be anultrasonic sensor or a photoelectric sensor for determining the heightof a person.

The weight sensor 55 is configured to enable the control circuitry 50 todetermine the weight of a person positioned in the booth 10. The weightsensor 55 may, for example, be a load cell or a strain gauge fordetermining the weight of a person when the person steps on the footgrate 14.

As described above, the applicator 57 may, for example, be a spray gunthat is configured to spray product onto the skin of a person in thebooth 10. The spray gun may have a variable fan output size. In someembodiments of the invention, the applicator 57 is a “flat spray gun”.The fan of product that is output by a flat spray gun is relatively‘flat’ in the longitudinal dimension z (as compared with the output inthe azimuthal and radial dimensions Φ, r). The control circuitry 50 maybe configured to control the fan output size of the applicator/spray gun57.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the size ofpeople using the booth 10 will vary. For example, the users will havevarying heights and varying weights. The memory 56 stores a plurality ofproduct application programs 8 for the apparatus 100. The productapplication programs 8 define how the control circuitry 50 shouldcontrol the applicator 57, via the drives 51-53, to apply product topeople of different sizes (i.e. different heights and weights). Theplurality of product application programs 8 may, for example, be storedas a look-up table in the memory 56.

Each product application program may, for example, define the following:

i) The fan output size of the applicator/spray gun 57. For example, theproduct application programs 8 may specify that the control circuitry 50controls the applicator/spray gun 57 to use a larger fan output size forlarger bodies (i.e. larger heights and weights).

ii) The manner in which the applicator 57 is guided along the firstguide 40 while the product is being applied to a person. For example,the product application programs 8 may specify that the controlcircuitry 50 controls the applicator 57 to apply product across a largerlongitudinal distance for a larger person than for a smaller person.

If a larger fan output size has been selected, it may be appropriate tocontrol the applicator 57 to move more slowly along the first guide 40than if a smaller fan output size had been selected, to ensure thatenough product is applied to the skin of the person.

The control circuitry 50 may be configured to determine, from the heightof the person, the position of various parts of the person such as thelegs, the torso and the head. It may be desirable to provide differentdensities of coverage of the product on different parts of the person.Consequently, the product application programs 8 may specify that thecontrol circuitry 50 controls the applicator 57 to move at differentspeeds depending on the part of the body that the product is beingapplied to.

The apparatus 100 may be configured to provide the person with an optionof selecting the density of the coverage of the product. For example, ifthe product is a sunless tanning lotion, the person may be able toselect whether he/she wishes to have a light, medium or deep tan. Thespeed at which the applicator 57 moves along the first guide 40 maydepend upon the selection made by the person. For example, the controlcircuitry 50 may control the applicator 57 to move more slowly if adense coverage has been selected, than if a light coverage had beenselected.

iii) The manner in which the applicator 57 is rotated about axis ofrotation 70 when product is being applied. For example, the determinedheight and weight of the person will indicate a particular body size.The product application programs 8 may specify that the third drive 53is controlled differently by the control circuitry 50, depending uponthe determined size (i.e. the determined height and/or weight) of aperson.

iv) The manner in which second guide 20 guides the first guide 40 in theazimuthal dimension Φ. For example, it may be appropriate to rotate thearm 22 across a greater angular range for a person having a largerweight than for a person having a smaller weight.

In a method according to embodiments of the invention, after a personhas stepped into the booth 10, the control circuitry 50 determines,using the height sensor 54 and the weight sensor 55, the height andweight of the person to whom product is to be applied. In response, thecontrol circuitry 50 selects an appropriate product application program8 for a person having the determined height and weight.

The control circuitry 50 then controls the applicator 57 to beginapplying product to the person using the selected product applicationprogram. In a typical product application program, the arm 22 may rotatethe first guide 40 in ten incremental steps across the front opening 11of the booth 10. For each azimuthal position of the first guide 40, theapplicator 57 may apply product continuously as it moves up the firstguide 40 (an “up stroke”) and down the first guide 40 (a “down stroke”).An up stroke and a down stroke may be completed for each azimuthalposition of the first guide 40. In some azimuthal positions, such asthose close to the center of the opening 11 of the booth 10, additionalsmaller up and down strokes may be performed. These additional smallerstrokes may, for example, enable better coverage to be provided intraditionally difficult to reach areas, such as the inner leg.

FIG. 5A illustrates product being applied to a relatively slim person200 positioned in the booth 10 by the applicator 57. The referencenumeral 101 illustrates the fan output of product from the applicator57. FIG. 5B illustrates product being applied to a larger person 201 bythe applicator 57. FIG. 5C illustrates product being applied to theinner leg of a person by the applicator 57 when the first guide 40 is ata different azimuthal position as compared with FIGS. 5A and 5B.

An apparatus 100 for applying product to the skin of a person has beendescribed above. The apparatus 100 is particularly advantageouslybecause it enables a product to be applied to the skin of a person in aconsistent manner. This is achieved, at least in part, by enabling theapplicator 57 to be placed in a large number of positions and to bedirected in a wide variety of directions. It is also achieved becausethe size of a person is taken into consideration when determining how tocontrol the applicator 57 to apply product to that person.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which theapplicator 57 is configured to rotate about an axis 305. The movement ofthe applicator 57 is illustrated by the arrows designated with thereference numeral 405 in FIG. 6. The applicator 57 may be configured torotate about the axis 305 in addition to rotating about the axis 70illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the FIG. 6 example, the axis of rotation 305 is perpendicular to thelength of the elongate first guide 40 and the axis 70. The axis 305 isalso perpendicular to the length of the arm 22. The applicator 57 may,for example, be able to rotate by 90 degrees about the axis 305. Thecontrol circuitry 50 may be configured to cause the applicator 57 torotate about the axis 305 by controlling a drive.

Rotation of the applicator 57 about the axis 305 enables the applicator57 to direct product upwardly or downwardly, for example. The applicator57 may, for example, be directed downwards when spraying the top of aperson's shoulders. The applicator 57 may, for example, be directedupwards when spraying under a person's breasts, chin, armpits or crotcharea.

The arrows 65 and 66 in FIG. 6 illustrate the directions of movement ofthe applicator 57 along the first guide 40.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the applicator 57 is a flatspray gun. In the illustration, the fan of product that is produced bythe applicator 57 is relatively ‘flat’ in the longitudinal dimension z.In this example, the applicator 57 is configured to be rotatable aboutthe axis 307. The motion of the applicator 57 is illustrated by thearrow 306. The axis of rotation 307 is perpendicular to the longitudinaldimension z and perpendicular to the axis of rotation 305 illustrated inFIG. 6.

The control circuitry 50 may control the applicator 57 to rotate aboutthe axis 307 via a drive.

FIG. 8 illustrates product being applied to a person 202 using theapplicator 57 illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 illustrates product beingapplied to a person 202 using the applicator 57, after the applicator 57has been rotated by 90 degrees about the axis 307.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method according to embodiments of the invention.At block 1000 in FIG. 10, the control circuitry 50 controls guidedmovement of the applicator 57 in a first (longitudinal) dimension z(e.g. movement of the applicator 57 along the first guide 40), in orderto enable the applicator 57 to apply product to the skin of a person(positioned within the booth 10) at a plurality of different heights.

At block 1001 in FIG. 10, the control circuitry 50 controls guidedmovement of the applicator 57 in a second (azimuthal) dimension Φ (e.g.movement of the applicator 57 and the first guide 40), in order toenable the applicator 57 to apply the product across the width of theperson positioned within the booth 10.

The blocks illustrated in FIG. 10 may represent steps in a method and/orsections of code in the computer program instructions 6. Theillustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarilyimply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and theorder and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may bepossible for some blocks to be omitted.

References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer programproduct’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or ‘controlcircuitry’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood toencompass not only computers having different architectures such assingle/multi-processor architectures and sequential (VonNeumann)/parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such asfield-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits(ASIC), signal processing devices and other processing circuitry.References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should beunderstood to encompass software for a programmable processor orfirmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardwaredevice whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settingsfor a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic deviceetc.

As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to all of thefollowing:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations inonly analog and/or digital circuitry),

(b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as(as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) toportions of processor(s)/software (including digital signalprocessor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause anapparatus to perform various functions, and

(c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of amicroprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, evenif the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in thisapplication, including in any claims. As a further example, as used inthis application, the term “circuitry” would also cover animplementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portionof a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in thepreceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should beappreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, insome embodiments of the invention, the applicator 57 does not rotateabout the axis of rotation 70, and no third drive 53 is provided forcausing the applicator 57 to rotate in this manner.

In some embodiments of the invention, a sensor may be provided to senseresistance to movement of the first guide 40 in the azimuthal dimensionΦ. The control circuitry 40 may be configured, in response to the sensorsensing resistance to movement of the first guide 40, to cause the firstguide 40 to cease moving. This is a safety feature that prevents aperson's limbs being trapped by the moving first guide 40.

Features described in the preceding description may be used incombinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certainfeatures, those functions may be performable by other features whetherdescribed or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certainembodiments, those features may also be present in other embodimentswhether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

I/we claim:
 1. A booth for applying product to the skin of a person,comprising: an entrance; an applicator configured to output the product;a guide configured to guide vertical movement of the applicator; an armrotatably coupled to a roof of the booth; a drive configured to causethe arm to rotate the guide across the entrance of the booth into aplurality of different azimuthal positions; a further drive configuredto drive vertical movement of the applicator along the guide; a sensorconfigured to sense the height of a person to whom the product is to beapplied; and control circuitry configured to control the drive,configured to use the sensor to determine the height of a person to whomproduct is to be applied, configured to determine positions of variousbody parts of the person from at least the height of the person, andconfigured to control the further drive to vary a speed at which theapplicator moves along the guide in dependence upon the body part thatthe product is being applied to.
 2. The booth as claimed in claim 1,wherein the speed at which the applicator moves along the guide isvariable based on a user selection.
 3. The booth as claimed in claim 1,wherein the arm is configured to rotate about an axis of rotationaligned with a length of the guide.
 4. The booth as claimed in claim 3,wherein the axis of rotation is separated from, and substantiallyparallel with, the length of the guide.
 5. The booth as claimed in claim3, wherein the applicator is configured to rotate about an axis that isperpendicular to the length of the guide, and the control circuitry isconfigured to control rotation of the applicator about the axis.
 6. Thebooth as claimed in claim 3, further comprising another drive that isconfigured to rotate the applicator, relative to the guide, about anaxis that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the arm.7. The booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuitry isconfigured to control movement of the applicator in the guide andmovement of the arm in accordance with a product application program. 8.The booth as claimed in claim 7, wherein the product application programused by the control circuitry depends on the weight of the person towhom the product is to be applied.
 9. The booth as claimed in claim 7,wherein the product application program used by the control circuitrydepends on the height of the person to whom the product is to beapplied.
 10. The booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is anultrasonic sensor or a photoelectric sensor.
 11. The booth as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to sense the weight ofthe person to whom the product is to be applied.
 12. The booth asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to senseresistance to movement of the guide, wherein the control circuitry isconfigured, in response to the sensor sensing resistance to movement ofthe guide, to cause movement of the guide to cease.
 13. The booth asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the applicator is a spray gun configured tospray the product onto the skin of the person.
 14. The booth as claimedin claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured, when the guideis in each of the azimuthal positions, to cause the applicator to movevertically in the guide and output the product.
 15. The booth as claimedin claim 1, wherein the booth defines an inner volume and has theentrance that enables a person to enter the booth and position himselfin the inner volume; and wherein the guide is positioned outside theentrance.
 16. The booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlcircuitry is configured to determine a body size of a person, theapplicator is configured to rotate about an axis aligned with the guide,and the control circuitry is further configured to control rotation ofthe applicator about the axis in dependence upon on the determined bodysize of the person.
 17. The booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is configured to determine a body size of a person,and further configured to determine an angular range over which torotate the arm in dependence upon the determined body size of theperson.
 18. The booth as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive is astepper motor that is configured to cause the arm to rotate in discretesteps across the entrance of the booth.
 19. A booth, for applyingproduct to the skin of a person, comprising: an entrance; an applicatorconfigured to output the product; a guide configured to guide verticalmovement of the applicator; an arm rotatably coupled to a roof of thebooth; a drive configured to cause the arm to rotate the guide acrossthe entrance in discrete steps into a plurality of different azimuthalpositions; a further drive configured to drive vertical movement of theapplicator along the guide; and control circuitry configured to controlthe drive and the further drive.
 20. A booth, for applying product tothe skin of a person, comprising: an entrance; an applicator configuredto output the product; a substantially vertical guide configured toguide vertical movement of the applicator; a track comprising a rack; anarm, rotatably coupled to a roof of the booth; a stepper motorconfigured to drive the arm along the rack in discrete steps by rotatinga pinion, causing the arm to rotate the guide in discrete steps about anaxis of rotation across the entrance of the booth into a plurality ofdifferent azimuthal positions; a drive, mounted on the arm and coupledto the applicator, configured to rotate the applicator about a furtheraxis of rotation that is spaced from and substantially parallel to theaxis of rotation of the arm; a further drive configured to drivevertical movement of the applicator along the guide; and controlcircuitry configured to control the stepper motor, the drive and thefurther drive.